Hacknet

The terminal based gameplay makes every hack feel far more immersive than the usual hollywood style approach. Following clues and uncovering the mystery kept me interested, while the soundtrack adds plenty of tension. Some commands become repetitive after a while, but the overall experience is still unique and memorable.

There is a game from the PS2/GameCube era that I have a fond memory of, called Enter the Matrix. It was nothing special, clunky controls and a relatively tame story that tied into the movie series, but it had one unique minigame you could play around in that also worked as a way to enable cheats in the main game. The minigame was a hacking simulator (of sorts) in relation to the Matrix universe. I distinctly remember it being rudimentary, since you didn't have a keyboard to navigate the system and had to rely on your controller's joystick, but it presented a unique challenge that allowed you to dig up some unique easter eggs. The reason I have a fond memory of this particular minigame is because it gave you zero information to work with, instead, it presented a few items of interest and if you started to dig you would find a common thread leading you to this one inconsequential easter egg. I don't even remember the easter egg; I believe it was a prerecorded soundbite from Neo. Nevertheless, what I remember is the minigame never held your hand, only showing you how to navigate the system and your own curiosity leading the way. This game recaptured that feeling. I had no idea what to expect but what I discovered is a game that very minimally holds your hand and forces you to utilize the tools at your disposal to solve a mystery. If you allowed your curiosity to guide you, then you will eventually uncover the truth. This is a fantastic game hiding in the shadows, so to speak. I thoroughly enjoyed the authentic feel of the overworld and the objective-less system, instead giving you instructions (sometime vague) on how to accomplish your mission. This game also presented a few unique challenges I wasn't even expecting. I think it's safe to say there are three unique moments where you can outright fail if you're slow enough, but all equally present an opportunity to fix your mistakes. If you're quick enough, you can avoid the mistakes in their entirety, which is deeply rewarding in and of itself. Overall, give this game a shot if you want a near-authentic hacking experience without having to worry about utilizing known computer languages.